Aloha Kākou!
I hope you all enjoyed the merry month of May. Did you read and share any great Asian Pacific books? I was busy finishing the first draft of my novel set on Kaua‘i and writing a short story that featured the Japanese and Hawaiian gods of the sea. Two completely different projects. Both perpetuated the energy of #AAPIHeritageMonth.
Now that we’re in June, I’m taking an evening away from Asian Pacific projects—editing the novel and preparing for the September launch of THE NINJA’S OATH—to participate in a very cool virtual event.
Thursday, June 15, 7pm EDT
Strong Women, Strange Worlds
6 authors, 8 minutes each.
Sit back with your favorite libation, and let us entertain you for an hour with snippets of exciting new books. I’ll end the program with an excerpt from my Brazilian dark fantasy thriller, DANCE AMONG THE FLAMES, then on to a brief Q&A, with prizes and giveaways at the end.
Register for this FREE Zoom event: https://bit.ly/3G9X5xz
Meet Serafina Olegario as she rises from the slums of Brazil to embrace Quimbanda magic on a quest for the ultimate revenge.
What I’m Writing:
That short I mentioned is for COMBAT MONSTERS, an anthology that imagines the uncredited roles monsters played in World War II battles.
I’ll be in stellar company with contributors like Seanan McGuire, Scott Sigler, Tanya Huff, Jonathan Maberry, Josh Malerman, Peter Clines, and more. Edited by Henry Herz, this Blackstone anthology will come out in 2024.
This was a fascinating and challenging project for me.
I had to research monsters (or in my case, gods) from both Japanese and Hawaiian mythology plus the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal.
I had no idea of the complexity I faced.
Since I always root my fiction solidly in facts, I researched extensively. Seriously. I could have written a novel with the documentaries, videos, articles, and survivor interviews I consumed.
Weaving my story into the chaos of that battle had me downing L-Theanine supplements for the stress!
That said, I felt so accomplished and proud of the results.
When my editor stamped his approval on the polished story, I didn’t know whether to cry or to cheer. Truth be told, I might have done both.
Although short stories take a fraction of the time to write compared to a novel, they still require a significant chunk of time that takes me away from the project at hand. For this reason, I’m not able to accept all the invitations I receive. I’m so glad I had the courage to accept this.
If you’re struggling through a challenging project of your own, I encourage you to stay the course. This has happened to me with stories before, and—so far—the struggle has been worth the rewards.
What I’m Reading:
THE GHOST BRIDE by Yangsze Choo is a historical fantasy, steeped in Chinese folklore about the daughter of a genteel but bankrupt family sought by a wealthy matriarch to become the ghost bride of her recently deceased son.
THE GHOST BRIDE is a mystical and engaging tale.
As a contributing essayist for UNQUIET SPIRITS: Essays by Asian Women in Horror, I’m well acquainted with Asian ghost stories. I’m also a big fan of Chinese historical and mythological fantasy. (See my reading list in “Where Writing and Mindfulness Converge” for more books.)
Although my mother never shared Chinese ghost stories when I was a kid, I seem to gobble up these Asian fantasies as an adult. It will be interesting to see if the Netflix Original series is as good as the book.
Shows I’m enjoying:
Speaking of shows…
After finally subscribing to Apple TV, we’ve started binging on the shows we have missed. TED LASSO was an absolute joy. BLACK BIRD was horrifying, with astounding performances by Taron Egerton and Paul Walter Hauser. THE MORNING SHOW took on MeToo and the pandemic with intrigue and depth. Kudos to Jennifer Anniston, Reese Witherspoon, and Steve Carell.
Now we’re into SILO, based on Hugh Howey’s riveting dystopian trilogy of the same name.
I also enjoyed SCHMIGADOON, which I watched on my own since I couldn’t convince my husband or son that a spoof on Broadway musicals could be fun!
What are you watching? What shows should I watch next?
Enter to win!
I have a gorgeous hardback edition of THE SENATOR’S WIFE, the latest twisty domestic psychological thriller by Liv Constantine, to give away to one lucky subscriber. The gas lighting and subterfuge had me so tied in knots, I raced to the shocking and satisfying end. Read it, loved it, and want to share it with you.
To enter, reply or comment with a book recommendation for me!
(USA only. Enter by Saturday, June 17, midnight PST.)
Save the date!
I’ve been invited to the Columbus Festival of Books. And since I have ninja friends in Ohio, I’ve also arranged a book signing at the Dayton Barnes & Noble in Beavercreek.
I’ll write more about this in my next muse-letter, but I hope you’ll mark your calendars now.
July 15, Saturday, Columbus Book Festival, 1 to 5pm EDT in Columbus, OH
“Where Do We Shelve It? Genre-Bending Fiction” panel at 1pm, room 2B
Hear about DANCE AMONG THE FLAMES at 4pm, room 2A
July 16, Sunday, 12-2pm EDT, Barnes & Noble in Beavercreek, OH
Book signing and chat with local readers and ninja friends.
That’s all for now. Enjoy your summer. I’m off for a hike!
Aloha nui loa,
Tori 🌺